4th Grade Student Self Portrait

We welcome a new blog writer, Mr. R!                                                                                  Mr. R is an elementary art teacher with a fun blog of his own. It probably was the name of his blog that first attracted us to him — “My Messy Art Room.” Periodically, Mr. R will share his ideas and his kids’ art work to further inspire you to make the monthly value VISIBLE in your school too! Enjoy his blog as well: http://mymessyartroom.blogspot.com

“I have used the value words from Core Essentials and was given the opportunity to utilize them in my art classroom and throughout my lessons — and to share with others!
One of the words was Honesty: Choosing to be truthful in whatever you say and do. After talking with my 4th grade students, we decided that a self-portrait is one of the most honest things that can be created in Art. When creating a self-portrait, you really have to be honest with yourself because there is no changing what you look like.
And, as it turns out, it just so happens that our librarian has a really great book on Chuck Close (for those of you who may not know, he is known for doing portraits and self-portraits). The book is titled, Chuck Close: Face Book. My students and I looked at his book for our inspiration.

We started our project using a grid system. They used 9″x12″ white paper and a ruler and made a 1-inch grid and outlined it with a Sharpie. Then they started to draw their self-portraits. I had them create a line drawing of their face. Then, I asked the students to be honest with themselves and think about the things that are important to them in their daily lives. I asked them to turn each grid square into a letter that would make up a word (I asked that the examples they used not be materialistic items).
I am posting a couple of the best examples so far, and when the portraits are finished, I will post them again. Thanks for looking!”

EVERY faculty or staff member in a school is OVERLOADED with tasks. Laura McCain, a counselor at Highland Elementary in Owensboro, Kentucky, has taken our program and condensed some ideas for her teachers. Below is her “Peace Out” email to faculty. In essence she’s customizing it for her school! Laura BELIEVES and SEES what a difference a values culture makes in school.

Thanks Laura!

We’d love to know how you deliver ideas and information in your school.

CATCHING KIDS SHOWING PEACE:
• One obvious way to catch peace in action is to insert yourself into conflict. We know this is typically easily found on the playground, in free-time activities, at the lunch table, etc. Guide students through the argument/situation and to a place of peace. Praise them for their use of the value.
• Have students help you “catch” other students. Demonstrate that when decisions are agreed upon or when things/ games/group assignments go well, it is primarily due to the participants’ devotion to peace. Ask them to help you catch others contributing to keeping the peace in their classroom. It may take some examples and debriefing on your part but once they get it you won’t be able to stop them!
• When a student is agreeable towards another student acknowledge their use of peace.
• If a child is obedient towards another teacher or grown up “catch” them displaying the value of peace.

Share with your class one afternoon or a FEW times this month:
PEACE VALUE VIDEO:

Some ideas for you this month:
• Draw a large peace sign on the board.
All month long write down the names of students you see choosing peace and the way that they modeled it.

• This month is Black History Month. Many individuals that we celebrate each Febru­ary were very committed to peace. Look up different historical figures in black history. Briefly read about them and determine if and how they demonstrated peace.
There is always a peaceful way to make a change and a not-so-peaceful way. Who gets to decide which way we go?

• One way to keep peace is by complimenting oth­ers. It can remind us all to see the good in every­one.

• What are some examples of good compliments?
Let’s challenge each other this week to each compli­ment a different person every day.

• Mother Theresa once said “Peace begins with a smile.” What do you think that means?”
Allow students to respond. Students can create their own slogans by finishing the phrase
“Peace be­gins with __________.”

• Can you imagine what the world would be like if people cared more about each other than winning an argument? Let’s start here!
Have students brainstorm how their class, lunch or recess would be different!

• Sometimes you need to practice peace.
Have students role play how to be a peacemaker in the midst of an argument. Have a discussion about how easy or hard it is to be a peacemaker.
What techniques do they use to diffuse an argument?

Intermediate:
Discuss this quote by Mahatma Gandhi— “An eye for an eye ends up mak­ing the whole world blind.”

In honor of DETERMINATION (deciding it’s worth it to finish what you started) and the animal of the month, McCall Elementary School students are practicing what they’ve learned about the value this month by trying to adopt 6 penguins at the Ft. Worth Zoo.

The students have already adopted 4 and have almost made our goal in money donations to adopt 2 more! The students promise not to stop what they have started until they reach their goal!

Great things are happening at McCall because “what begins here changes the world!”

Shannon Reynolds
McCall Elementary Counselor
Willow Creek, Texas
Partnering with the Chick-fil-A of Weatherford, TX

Determination shown through "Penguin Power"

Sometimes a two minute song sums it all up – especially with the help of Sesame Street. Discovering who you are meant to be so you can make a difference.

We hope you’ll share this fun song just like our friends at Bermudian Springs Elementary School in Pennsylvania shared with us!